Amelia Sheppard watched through her scrying device as the Acolytes of Ao marched down Highway 1 toward the Fort. Since Anton left just over a year ago, he wouldn’t even recognize it now. The miniature fort on Dover Air Force Base had been abandoned, and the Fort of Dover Park had expanded so that it filled the area between the primary Highways all the way from the Dover Motor Speedway to the Northwest and North Little Creek Rd to the south.
New walls were being built south of North Little Creek Road between Highway 1 and Highway 13, all the way down to the Puncheon Run Connector. It would increase the size of their livable area by almost 60%. The walls around the main area all rose 200 feet and had been created with an acute angle and smooth surface to make sure that attackers would have a hard time climbing the walls.
As for the threat of flying creatures, there were archer towers every 50 feet within the walls, and they were all manned with individuals who could use a bow or rifle with at least three people at all times.
That was the other thing that had changed over the last year: their population had exploded. Right now, there are about 70,000 people inside the walls, and everyone has a primary job supporting the community. Be that support, combat, or farming. Most of the food was still being brought in from their quartermaster Pavo, though they had an actual quartermaster now that could get other harder-to-reach items.
The SYSTEM had changed how Merchants procured products. Instead of using a Node, the Merchant classes gained the ability to Teleport to a Merchant's hub, where they had to trade for what they wanted. Pavo, their first merchant of a sort, still needed capital to be able to exchange salvage for supplies if he didn’t have the coin or credit. Pavo had told her that every time he went to the Hub, he earned class experience as long as he made profitable trades. He also didn’t think the hub was on Earth.
Amelia looked back to her Scrying Crystal and recognized that the Army the Acolytes of Ao was marching south was near the Smyrna Airport, only eight miles away.
“Where are they,” the leader of the Fort, Felix, asked.
“They’re just reaching the Smyrna Airport.”
Felix nodded to himself, “You only see that army?”
“That’s it,” But you know as well as I do that the scouts have been reporting encounters that disengage to the east and the west,” Amelia offered.
“I do…”Felix started to say when one of their soldiers entered the command center, “Yes?” Felix asked.
“Our scout hiding in Little Creek to the east just reported that a sizeable force has come in from the sea.”
Felix laughed, “I have to give those idiots credit; they have some balls. Nobody should be going over deep water right now, but they would have had to go unnoticed by all of our other scouts.”
“Yes, Sir. And the Scout?
“Order them to go to ground or evade, if they can. Trying to run will make them look guilty. Going to the ground and hiding with their Coffin spell might be better.”
Amelia also had the Coffin Spell; it truly sucked. For 100 mana, she could be dropped into the ground and stay there as long as she had the mana to do so. The spell level reduced the mana cost, which was one mana for every turn at spell level one. She’d been lucky enough that her mana regeneration rate was two per turn, so she could stay underground as long as she wanted. The thing that sucked about the spell was that she couldn’t see or hear anything else unless she had another Earth-based spell that would allow her to perceive her surroundings. Or a Divine spell, which is what she used.
“The scout out that way is Rodger; he’s going to ground in location alpha. He’ll wait until someone comes by and stomps on the ground in the correct pattern.”
“Understood,” Felix said as he turned to the other lieutenants and Captains in the room. They're coming from the North and the East. Set up our defenses accordingly. Do not leave any holes, though; we need to cover the whole wall.
“Yes, Sir!” fifteen individuals said in unison and then left to get their soldiers ready.
“And me?” Amelia asked.
“Well, If you could pray to Keres and ask her to send Anton back, or even Caitlyn, that would be great.”
“I can’t do anything about Anton. The Goddess has been very specific: he must find his own way home. As for Caitlyn, she’s still in her Prismatic Cocoon. The Goddess isn’t sure why it’s taken so long; even her senses are blocked. But, she assures me it’s because Caitlyn is transforming into something much more powerful than she was.”
“Alright,” Felix said, “Then I want you to help get everyone underground that isn’t needed top side within the next two hours. The only access point of access to the compound I do not want to seal is the stairway under this building. Everything else is to be sealed by the Earth Mages.” If it looks like we’re losing, everyone will fall back to headquarters and retreat down the stairway. If they follow us down there, it will be their end.
Very well,” Amelia said as she left the headquarters building to get everything started. She sure hoped Caityln would wake up soon.
***
For Caitlyn, only moments had passed as consciousness came back to her. She could tell that the Prismatic Cocoon of light still surrounded her as Notifications filled her vision. She couldn’t move yet, so she started reading.
Congratulations! Race Human has Evolved to Race Elemental Celestial.
Perk Gained: Celestial Aura. Your Natural Human Aura has upgraded and evolved to a Celestial Aura.
Your Aura Range is Equal to the average of your Willpower, Charisma, and Luck attribute bonus in feet.
Those within the range of your Aura are automatically protected or suppressed if their Aura Defense is less than your Aura Strength Rating.
Suppressed: You may choose to retract your Aura to prevent Suppression, but you may not pick and choose who is affected by it. Those Suppressed must have willpower equal to one-tenth of your Aura Strength to even attempt to move. While within your aura, The number of attacks that can be made against you is equal to the sum of your Aura Strength minus their Aura Defense divided by 10. If this results in a negative number, even if they have the will to move, they may only take one action during the turn, no matter how many actions they could normally make, unless hasted by a spell, of course. Additionally, if Suppressed to the point where they may only take one action during the Turn, it cannot be an action to attack the Celestial whose Aura has them suppressed.
Protected: While within your Aura, Those you designated as allies are not affected by any aura that cannot first affect you.
Perk Gained: Spell “Elemental Shaping” at Spell Level 80.
Your attunement with the elements has automatically gifted you the Spell Elemental Shaping at Spell Level 80. You may shape up to 80 cubic feet of any basic component that is the product of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water at a cost of 80 mana per element. This is an intuitive spell and can be done with a single action. Air, Fire, and Water will shape within a single turn. Earth may take a little longer, depending on its composition.
Mana Cost: 80
Range: 800 feet
Perk Gained: Elemental Movement.
Your attunement to the basic elements allows you to pass through the basic elements without Pause. You pass normally through areas with High winds and cold, Fire and Heat, Rough ground, and water. In practical terms, this means that you could be moving at your max speed from the sky into the ocean, and you will pass through the interface of Air to Water without creating a splash. You will not leave a wake while in water, and you will not leave a trail over land. The elements sway to your passing.
Perk Gained: Elemental Skills
As an Elemental Celestial, the Artifacts you absorbed have bestowed you with one Psychic Skill Unique to each of the eight Elements: (Earth) Armor / (Air) Flight / (Water) Swim / (Fire) Flame Resistant / (Light) Refraction / (Darkness) Stealth / (Life) Heal Self and Other / (Death) Absorb Life.
Perk Gained: Skill and Spell Infusion.
All Gifted Skills and Spells are automatically increased to level 80 at no cost. Lack of use cannot reduce these skills below this level.
Psychic Skills Gained:
(Earth) Armor
You may surround yourself with Earthen Armor.
This Armor will absorb up to 10 + 1 point of Damage per skill level.
PE Cost: 10. / 1 PE per Turn to maintain.
(Air) Flight
You may adjust your composition to that of the wind.
You may move normally through the air at a rate equal to your normal running speed multiplied by one-tenth of your Skill level.
PE Cost: None
Flight requires Stamina. The stamina requirement is equal to the flight multiplier. If traveling at twice running speed, the Stamina cost is doubled.
(Water) Swim
You breathe water normally.
Also, You may travel through water normally.
PE Cost 10. / / 1 PE per Turn to maintain.
(Fire) Immunity to Heat / Fire
Natural Flame and Fire do not affect you. This includes the heat from Lava or Magma, which you can move through normally.
PE Cost: None
(Light) Refraction
At will, you may choose to allow light to reflect or pass through you as if you weren’t there. Not allowing light to reflect off of you effectively makes you invisible. This Skill is effective against all energy states of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Yes, this makes you immune to any light-based Skills, Spells, or Weapons.
PE Cost: None
(Darkness) Stealth
You move naturally without making noise or leaving a trail, and the shadows beneath your feet absorb any sound you might make.
Your chance to be detected is equal to your Intelligence Attribute Bonus plus your skill level.
Requirement: Shadows or Darkness cannot be used in a well-lit area.
PE Cost: None
Stamina Cost: 10 per turn while active.
(Life) Heal Self and Other
You may Heal yourself and others at a cost of 1 PE for 1 Hit Point.
You may heal a maximum number of Hit Points equal to your Skill Level x 5 per Turn.
(Death) Absorb Life
With a Touch, you may Absorb Hit Points from others at a cost of 2 PE for 1 Hit point Each Turn.
You may absorb a number of Hit Points from your target equal to your Skill Level x 5 per use.
Congratulations! You have Evolved your Epic Soldier Class to the Class of Celestial Vanguard.
Celestial Vanguard
Whether on the Material or Divine Planes, the Celestial Vanguard acts as the shock troops for their Gods. Considered a Mythic Class, each level in this class bestows 40 hit points, 40 Stamina, 10 Mana, 10 Psychic Energy, 20 Skill Slots, 10 Spell Slots, and 10 Psionic Ability Slots per level.
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Conversion of Epic Soldier to Mythic Celestial Vanguard has reduced your level from 1,296 Epic Soldier to 1,122 Celestial Vanguard. Attributes and Resources have been modified accordingly.
Your new Class has also bestowed upon you a new Perk.
Congratulations! You have gained the Perk: Spell “Weapon of the Elements.”
Weapon of the Elements.
Mana Cost: 800
You may call forth a Weapon of the Elements. This weapon may take any form that you desire so long as a weapon that you are proficient with.
Durability 800 – The weapon can take up to 800 points of damage before being destroyed.
Damage: Base Damage + Strength Damage + Choice of Fire, Ice, or Death Damage.
Note: Fire and Death or Ice and Death can be combined.
Elemental Damage is +10 per type of Elemental Damage added to the attack.
If Fire Damage is added, the blade glows red.
If Ice damage is added, the blade glows blue.
If Death Damage is added, the blade glows Black
When Elements are combined, the blade will be streaked with both colors.
You may only conjure one Weapon of the Elements at a time, but it can be summoned and dismissed at will. When dismissed, it is stored within a unique dimensional storage location within the Soul of the Celestial Vanguard.
While within the area of your Aura, this weapon does not require mana to maintain.
If taken from you, it deteriorates at a rate of 8 durability per turn unless eight mana are invested into it.
If Destroyed, the Weapon of the Elements may be summoned again for 800 mana.
Title Gained, “Chosen of Keres
You are the Chosen of Keres. You leap forward as the Vanguard of her faithful and are their primary protector on the Material Plane you call home. Let no others infringe upon the Faithful of Keres.
+10 to All Attributes
+10 to all Resource Regeneration
+100 to all Resource Pools
Caitlyn looked over the changes to her race and class and then opened her Status Screen.
Name: Caitlyn Sheppard
Birthday: May 1st 2051
Apparent Age: 35
Race: Elemental Celestial
Rank / Class / Level:
Mythic / Celestial Vanguard / 1,122
Hit Points: 62,158 / PDR: 122 / Armor: 0
Health Regeneration: 11
Stamina: 167,740
Stamina Regeneration: 1,238
Mana: 134,060
Mana Regeneration: 1,238
Psychic Energy: 16,966
Psychic Regeneration: 133
Strength: 12,276
Agility: 12,276
Dexterity: 12,276
Endurance: 12,276
Constitution: 12,276
Perception: 12,276
Intelligence: 12,276
Wisdom: 12,272
Willpower: 12,274
Charisma: 12,280
Luck: 12,270
Chaos: 10
Order: 10
Skill, Spell, and Psychic Skill Slots
Current / Maximum:
Skill Slots: 23,668 / 23,668
Spell Slots: 13781 / 13796
Psychic Skill Slots: 17476 / 17476
Conviction Level: 100
Conviction: 6,143,470
Running Speed
MPH: 7,733
FPS: 11,343
Flight Speed
MPH: 61,871
FPS: 90,744
Abilities:
Celestial Ember
Minor Intuition
Celestial Elemental
Titles:
Antecedent
Leap of Faith
Zombie Slayer X
Skeleton Slayer X
Chosen of Keres
Perks:
Elemental Champion (Life's Champion evolved)
Celestial Aura
Elemental Shaping
Elemental Movement
Elemental Skills
Skill Infusion
Weapon of the Elements
Skills
High School Education: 20
Athletics: 12
Swimming: 6
College Education (General): 20
Military Training (General and Officer): 28
Unarmed Combat: 14
Daggers: 5
Small Arms Combat: 12
Small Arms Maintenance: 5
Long Arms Combat: 7
Long Arms Maintenance: 4
Forest survival: 9
Desert Survival: 5
Arctic Survival: 4
Jungle Survival: 4
Spells
Commune: 5
Minor Healing: 1
Elemental Shaping: 80
Psychic Skills: Skill Level
(Earth) Armor: 80
(Air)Flight: 80
(Water) Swim: 80
(Fire) Immunity to Heat/Fire: 80
(Light) Refraction: 80
(Darkness) Stealth: 80
(Life) Heal Self and Other: 80
(Death) Absorb Life: 80
Caitlyn’s mind froze. Level 1,296 before it was reduced to 1,122 for her new class? How the hell?
Caitlyn checked her Experience Log.
Congratulations! You have defeated the Chosen of Anubis, a level 3,161 Mage of Death.
Your portion of the Experience Award is 416,461,750 XP
You have been awarded 6,322 Gold
Class, Epic Soldier has reached level 125
~
Class Epic Soldier has reached level 1,296.
Wow, she’d earned 1,172 levels in her old class, and that was only half of the experience the Death Mage had provided. Also, when the conversion happened, she’d only lost 50 levels, though the amount of Attributes had doubled. 64,800 Attributes as an Epic Soldier or 112,200 Attributes as a Mythic Celestial Vanguard. It wasn’t even a choice.
Caityln’s thoughts were interrupted when the Prismatic Cocoon was shattered as a Beam of Light surrounded Caitlyn.
You have been hit by the Divine Power, “Judgement of Light.”
100,000 Conviction has been sacrificed to strike you down where you stand. Judgment of Light is a magnification of Divine Conviction; it cannot be countered with Conviction.
The Psychic Skill, “Refraction,” has been activated.
“Judgment of Light” passes through you without effect.
***
Blaze, The High Priest of Ao, looked down from where he floated above the Fort. His forces were currently trying to make their way into the underground Complex that had been built under this location while he dealt with the only anomaly they’d found. They’d learned that the Sub-Commander had been undergoing a transformation within the Prismatic Cocoon of Light for the last year. While it would have been interesting to see what she had become and even bring her over to the holy light of Ao, it was better to make sure anything that could be an issue was destroyed. He’d spent 100,000 of his Personal Conviction to call down a “Judgement of Light.”
Under the assault of the Beam of Light from the heavens, the prismatic cocoon vanished, and whatever had been inside it disappeared with it. When exposed to the light, just another weak mortal,” Guggle.”
Blaze struggled to look down at his chest, where a prismatic blade burst forth directly over his heart. Blood ran down his robe, which was perfectly white. He was about to cast a healing spell that probably would have saved his life when a hand grabbed the back of his head, and the world fell away forever.
***
Caitlyn watched impassively as the 800 mana she’d just spent to use Absorb Life destroyed the High Priest she was holding by the back of his head. The robes that the floating priest had been wearing seemed to deflate as the body withered and the body turned to dust. Still invisible, Caitlyn also looked around to get the lay of the land and noticed that far too many followers of Ao had overrun the fort. Priests, wizards, and soldiers filled the grounds of the much expanded Fort since last she saw it.
Multiple Acolytes of Ao rushed toward where the High Priest floated in the air, well, his robe anyway. The body had decayed and turned to dust before falling away. Absorb Life was no joke. Also, when she checked her Hit Points, she noticed that she had 400 more Hit Points than the maximum number she could hold, and her Mana Regeneration rate had already replaced the 800 mana she spent.
Caitlyn thought about all the changes that had just been made to her. The only powers she’d gained that had an area of effect were either Elemental Shaping or Celestial Aura. She willed her Aura to expand out to its maximum area of effect. The effect was immediate; everyone within range froze. They didn’t just freeze. Those on the ground dropped into a fetal position while the acolytes that had been trying to fly up to where the High Priest had been came to a stop and looked to be slowly backing away from her.
Caitlyn turned off Refraction to become visible as she activated her Sigil of Keres, which appeared above her. Those outside of the range of her Aura looked in her direction to see what was going on as she used Elemental Shaping to amplify her voice so that everyone would be able to hear her for miles.
“You have entered the Domain of Keres. You have attacked my brothers and sisters, those who I am charged to protect. I'll give you this one…”
From outside the range of her aura, an Air mage used the same trick she was to amplify his voice as he interrupted her, “Why the Fuck would we…”
The Air Mage had been approximately 2,000 feet away from her. Before he could even respond, Caitlyn passed by like an anime character. The Air Mage’s head fell from his lifeless body as she made a flourish with her sword, and it vanished. Of course, her Aura moved with her, and a new group of invaders was frozen while the first group started to regain their senses.
Caitlyn continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted, “Chance to leave without immediate and brutal retaliation. There will be a consequence to this invasion, make no mistake, but….”
Caitlyn was shot at by multiple individuals outside the range of her aura. Violent Death it was then. It was time to see if Elemental Movement was as useful as she thought it might be. The Perk stated that she could move through air, water, and even fire with no issue. Could she move through Earth as well?
Currently, she was above the street right outside the headquarters building. The underground complex should be directly below her, about 100 feet. As spells and bullets hit her for no effect, Caitlyn lowered herself to the ground. The spells seemed to unravel against her, and the bullets just bounced off.
Caitlyn landed on the ground and willed herself to move down. The concrete and earth seemed to take on the consistency of liquid as she dropped into it. Also, once her head dropped below the surface, everything underground became visible to her. She couldn’t see outside of the stone, but she could see where it had ended. It was like being on the outside of a programed area in a computer game. The area she was in ended up looking like walls, which must be where the open areas were below.
Caitlyn withdrew her Aura and then sank one hundred feet through the ceiling of the complex's main entry point and fell to the floor. One overzealous soldier had shot her foot as she broke through the roof of the underground chamber, but the bullets just bounced off. As she fully emerged from the ceiling, she heard one of her lieutenants bark out, “Hold your Fire, that’s Commander Sheppard!” before Caitlyn tapped his throat mike and said, “Sir, Commander Sheppard is in the main room,”
“Did you miss me?” Caitlyn asked.
“He didn’t,” one of the sergeants who knew Caitlyn and what she’d been capable of before she’d entered the cocoon said as he pointed to a young man that she did not know. His eyes went wide as a look of shock filled his face.
Caitlyn took pity on the poor kid as she smiled in his direction, “I like your enthusiasm,” then she looked around the room, “Now, who’s in charge?”
“That would be me,” Felix said.
“It’s good to see you, Sir,” Caitlyn said.
“You too. You’ve been gone for a year.”
“A full year? Well then, I’ll have a lot of questions after we take out the army above us,” Caitlyn said.
“You have a plan?” Felix asked.
“Yes, Sir! How many followers of Keres do we have?”
“Everyone here, except for the very young, follow Keres,” Felix said.
“Awesome, let's get to the entrance. I’ll need everyone to activate their Sigil and then follow me out. Heads up. As long as you're within a thousand feet of me, this is going to be a slaughter, not a fight.”
“Any chance we can get them to withdraw,” Felix asked.
“First question I asked them. They attacked. Now it is time to sacrifice the followers of Ao to our Goddess.”
Felix led Caitlyn to the unblocked entryway, where fighting could be heard. As they walked up, Caitlyn said, “Alright, everyone. Activate your Sigils. I’ll walk forward, follow me, and slay every enemy you find.”
The soldiers around her looked at her confusedly until she extended her aura. She made sure to exempt anyone who was a follower of Keres from her Aura, but it looked like they still felt something because everyone around her looked around at each other. Before anyone could say something, everyone noticed that the enemy had stopped attacking. Without waiting, Caitlyn strode forward until she was at the stairway that led to the surface.
“Alright, people, let’s do this, No mercy, and remember, our Goddess is the Goddess of Violent Death. Make sure they feel it!” Caitlyn said as she started walking up the stairs.” She didn’t need the XP or conviction these deaths would generate, but her soldiers might. Caitlyn watched as their eyes filled with lust for battle, and they followed her into the hallway and up the stairs, killing every enemy they encountered.
Over the next two hours, the Fort was cleared of all those who had attacked and killed the Followers of Keres under the Command of Felix and, once again, Commander Sheppard. Caitlyn watched but did not help unless someone outside of the range of her Aura tried to attack them. If they did, she moved to their side, decapitated said attacker, and then moved right back to her previous position so that the effects of her aura would remain constant in a specific area until it was cleared. She didn’t need the enemy finding the ability to move and attack once again after they’d been suppressed.
She watched as a few of the soldiers struggled with the idea of killing helpless people until they saw their dead friends still lying where they’d fallen. Luckily, all of the attackers were dead or fleeing within three hours, which was when they retook the walls. Caitlyn used Elemental Shaping to seal all the holes and cracks within ten minutes, and Felix had sentries posted around the perimeter.
When she was finished patching up the walls, Caitlyn sought out Felix.
“What are you going to do now?” Felix asked.
“Never leave an enemy behind you. I plan to kill as many of these idiots as I can. They don’t get to flee back toward New York City,” Caitlyn said.
“Do you know where their base of operation is?” Felix asked.
Just then, Amelia ran up, looked Caitlyn in the eye, and said, “No.”
Caitlyn looked at her and gestured for her to continue.
“No,” Amelia repeated, " you will not attack the domain of another God directly.”
“But, they attacked us?” Felix said.
“The Goddess has made this very clear. We are not to conquer the other Temples on this planet. If they attack us or we find them away from the temple of their God or Goddess, yes, we can kill them and dedicate their deaths to her. But, for reasons she can’t let us know, we cannot attack another Temple. She did see that this would go over badly, so she told me to tell you that not attacking Temples here will help Anton where he is.”
“Truly?” Caitlyn asked.
“Yes,” Amelia said.
“Very well,” Caitlyn said with a sigh,” Can I at least go after the leftovers from this attack?”
“Their Temple is in New York City, over 140 miles away,” Amelia said.
Felix looked from Amelia to Caitlyn and then nodded to Caitlyn, “Have fun. Once we get the gates rebuilt, I’ll send out a couple of teams into the surrounding area to make sure none have tried to hide close by.”
“And I’ll pray on it?” Amelia said.
Caitlyn nodded, “I’ll be back when I’m done chasing them down so we can catch up. Once I’m back, you can all fill me in on what’s been going on for the last year.”
“Happy Hunting,” Felix said as Caitlyn activated Refraction and vanished from sight before she flew up and out over the base. She would be the eagle, the follower of Ao, the mouse. It was time to go hunting.